Volume 3, Issue 2 - November 2009

Dear Friends,

In times that are challenging for nonprofits, we are encouraged that many of our donors feel strongly about supporting the mission of La Leche League International (LLLI). Your support throughout this year has enabled us to embark upon important projects that have and will continue to help many new mothers. As you’ll read in our first article, we provided 10,000 LLLI breastfeeding packets to over 30 hospitals and health care facilities in the United States and Jamaica. We started work on a comprehensive breastfeeding video and the eighth revision of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, due to be released next year. Through a partnership with our Leaders around the world, we will soon have completed translating key updated LLLI information sheets into ten different languages.

As we move forward through these difficult economic times, our focus will remain at the core of our mission, helping mothers and babies.

We hope that you will continue to support this valuable mother-to-mother support network. Your generous contributions enable us to provide breastfeeding support to many more families worldwide.

Sincerely,
Holly S. Stevens
Development Director

New Mother Packet Project Supports 10,000 Mothers!

La Leche League International (LLLI) distributed 10,000 New Mother Packets to over 30 hospitals and facilities in the United States and in Jamaica! This project was made possible through a grant from the Isdell Family Foundation and through your generous support of our 2008 year-end matching gift campaign.

LLLI partnered with LLL Leaders, such as Isadora Britton of LLL Red Mountain in Arizona, USA, who distributed packets to her local hospital.

From left to right: Heather Abby, and Kate Gookin
Isadora and Ewan Britton
Marcy and Audrey Solomonson
Wendy and Kaylynn O'Neal

“I gave birth recently at a local hospital and it was a great experience but I was so disappointed when they offered me a choice of two different diaper bags to take home. I decided that our LLL group had to put together some ‘breastfeeding bags’ to offer as an option for mothers who wanted to successfully breastfeed. LLLI was able to provide us with New Mother packets. I found a wonderful home for these at Mountain Vista Medical Center here in Mesa, AZ.
“I think that these packets are a wonderful source of practical tips and information to get moms off to a good start with breastfeeding. They were also a great way to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week in our community.” — Isadora Britton, Mesa, AZ, USA

Early in July 2009, Curt Lindley, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica, contacted LLLI requesting breastfeeding materials that would assist him in educating Jamaican women about the importance and benefits of breastfeeding. Curt said, “Peace Corps’ involvement in promoting breastfeeding in Jamaica is because breastfeeding is the single most effective way of reducing child and infant mortality in Jamaica.”

Curt manages a Breastfeeding Support Group and has been working to expand its outreach and to increase the number of women who exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of their child’s life. “Breastfeeding rates have remained relatively static for the past years and, with the downturn in the local economy and the onset of hurricane season, food and security have been compromised. …I believe this is a critical point in spreading the word on the importance of breastfeeding” said Curt.

LLLI provided Curt with informational sheets on a variety of pertinent breastfeeding topics, pocket guides containing breastfeeding tips, copies of its cornerstone books, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and The Breastfeeding Answer Book, along with World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) materials on breastfeeding in times of emergency which is the World Breastfeeding Week 2009 theme.

World Breastfeeding Week 2009

This year's World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) theme, Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response — Are You Ready? reinforces the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergency response worldwide.

La Leche League International invites you to continue celebrating WBW by encouraging your friends and fellow breastfeeding advocates to support breastfeeding before and during emergencies. It’s always a good time to promote the importance of breastfeeding!

Visit the LLLI Web site to download helpful materials and locate local events. You can also send free eCards to spread the word!

Isdell Family Foundation Grant

A generous grant made by the Isdell Family Foundation of Atlanta, Georgia,
USA has been awarded to La Leche League International (LLLI) to support its Leader Accreditation program. Funds will be used to update Leader Accreditation materials and provide scholarships to Leader applicants from Asia, Latin America, and Africa, areas showing a growing need for Leader support.

Highlights from Around the World

LLL Great Britain received funding from the Department of Health to help them expand their Local Group network so that more mothers can access the support that La Leche League groups offer. Their goal is to establish ten new groups, starting by creating awareness in the summer and autumn of 2009. To read more about the “10 New Groups Project,” click here.

LLL Saudi Arabia has begun a series of enrichment meetings for breastfeeding mothers. “Enrichment Meetings are LLL meetings that focus on a special topic of interest to breastfeeding mothers—for example, baby massage, cooking demonstrations, and book reviews,” said Saudi Arabian LLL Leader, Brooke.

LLL Hong Kong recently announced that they now have a new Chinese-speaking Leader, Heidi, who will run a new Cantonese group each month. “I hope that I can serve more Chinese-speaking mothers as I can see a huge need here,” said Heidi. “Even though many Chinese mothers [in Hong Kong] can speak English, connecting with each other in our own language is a more intimate experience and leads to a deeper understanding.”

The previous two highlights are excerpts from a recent issue of La Leche League Asia’s newsletter, Close to the Heart

LLLI Exhibits at ILCA Conference

LLLI was represented at the 2009 International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) Conference held in Orlando, Florida, USA. Around 900 ILCA representatives from around the world came together to hear about new lactation research and to learn about health strategies that enable women to initiate and maintain breastfeeding.

Pictured: ReNata Bauder, LLLI Advertising & Exhibits Mgr.

LLLI staff, Barbara Emanuel, LaJuana Oswalt, and ReNata Bauder networked with lactation consultants and Directors that shared ideas of how LLLI can best support lactation consultants in the field. They also expressed interest and excitement about the upcoming revision of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, due to be released in 2010 in conjunction with ILCA’s 25th anniversary celebration.International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) — July 22-26, 2009

Mother-to-Mother Support at the CORE of Meeting

Rebecca Magalhães, Director of External Relations and Advocacy, represented LLLI at the Child Survival Collaborations and Resources Group (CORE) Spring Meeting held April 20-24, 2009, in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. As a co-chair of the CORE Nutrition Working Group (NWG), Rebecca’s goals were to share information, promote LLLI services and programs and to build relationships with other CORE members.

During the Nutrition Working Group session a group of Leaders, Leader Applicants, and members along with their babies and toddlers successfully demonstrated the power of mother-to-mother support to a global audience through a mock LLL group meeting. Following the meeting, one of the attendees commented to the CORE Secretariat that, “the mother support group was a hit!”

A recent study (May 2009) from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists contributes to the evidence that increased breastfeeding has long-lasting health benefits for mothers. This study of nearly 140,000 postmenopausal women (median age 63 years) examined the effect of duration of lactation on risk factors for cardiovascular disease—including obesity, hypertension, self-reported diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular disease.

The study concluded that among these postmenopausal women, increased duration of lactation was associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. To read a related article on this study, click here.

LLLI Publications Going Green!

LLLI is in the process of redesigning selected publications to move to an online format. This direction contributes to reducing our carbon footprint and makes the best use of financial resources. Moving LLL materials online will also make them accessible to a broader readership.

You will soon be receiving an e-communication from our publications department about our first publication going online, New Beginnings. This LLLI publication has informative articles geared toward the breastfeeding family.

As a token of appreciation for your continued support of LLLI, we’d like to offer you this online publication at no cost. You are welcome to share it with others whom you think may benefit from it. Should you not wish to receive this publication there will be an option to unsubscribe.

New LLLI materials, already available in online and print format include:

Breastfeeding Abstracts – This publication contains summaries of current research on human milk, breastfeeding, and lactation for health care professionals. A recent issue featured information on Vitamin D’s role on maternal and infant bone health, cardiovascular health, immune function and glucose metabolism. The newest issue featuring the topic of premature breastfeeding will soon be released.

Informational Sheets – These are one-page sheets that cover specific topics related to breastfeeding. Available in both online and printed format, they are inexpensive to reproduce and distribute to mothers that may not have access to the internet. Our most recent information sheets include:

Guide to Pumping Your Milk —Provides information for mothers who are interested in pumping their milk. Topics include: why baby may be unable to breastfeed well, separation (due to work, school, or travel), and tips for pumping more effectively.

“Very well done info sheet. As a working mother who breastfed all my children, this really gets all the important information out there! Thank you!”— Robyn Roche-Paull, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

Breastfeeding After Cesarean Section —Discusses choosing a hospital, the benefits of rooming in, types of anesthetics and medications, positioning, and more.

Care Plan for Mastitis —Provides information for mothers who have inflammation of the breast, which is usually caused by backed up milk in a section of the breast. Issues addressed include prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment.

In March 2006, LLLI received a proposal from the Special Collections and Archives Department of DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA for housing the organization’s official archives. DePaul was interested in the historical aspects of LLLI as a women’s organization.

Edna Kelly, a long time LLL Leader from Texas, USA, who works professionally as a librarian, volunteered to facilitate the work involved in making decisions on appropriate materials for the collection and transferring of LLLI materials to DePaul. As Edna wrote in a March 2006 report: “In depositing their records in DePaul University archives, LLLI provides a permanent repository for their materials with historical value, providing a means for researchers worldwide to access this information for current and future research purposes. “

The LLLI Archive collection is available to anyone who has an interest in the materials. Check the DePaul website at www.depaul.edu for information about policies and procedures.

Support LLLI on Facebook!

Become a member of the La Leche League International Facebook Group and support the LLLI Cause at www.causes.com/llli

You know that breastfeeding is the best infant feeding choice and this may be why you became involved with LLLI in the first place! Join other breastfeeding supporters around the world to share your story, promote the benefits of breastfeeding, and make a difference in the lives of families around the world who look forward to a rewarding and positive breastfeeding experience.

A Sweet Fundraising Opportunity!

LLLI recently participated in an online fundraiser by The Christie Cookie company. People were asked to vote for their favorite charity. LLLI ranked in the top 50 of charities receiving the most number of votes. As one of the Top 50, The Christie Cookie company is offering an additional fundraising opportunity to LLLI. From now through December 25, 2009, anyone who purchases their cookies online (www.christiecookies.com) and includes the specific key code of 25K49, The Christy Cookie company will designate 20% of the sale as a donation to LLLI.

Search & Shop for LLLI!

Help LLLI every time you shop online and search the Web by downloading the GoodSearch/GoodShop toolbar! Each time you shop at one of more than 1,300 participating top stores—from Amazon to Zazzle!—LLLI will earn a percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you.

You may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals! This toolbar also includes a search box and each time you search the Web, about a penny is donated to LLLI. Click here to watch your support add up!

Thank you for your ongoing support of our mission. If you have questions about the material presented in this newsletter or any other questions about LLLI, please contact the Development Department! We value your input and involvement in the LLLI community.